* Editor here refers to someone who works on improving an author's narrative, as opposed to a publisher's Commissioning or Acquisitions Editor who takes on new authors for their list, or a Journalism Editor who develops and arranges content for their particular medium.

How can I be sure I need an editor or proofreader?

Sometimes it’s hard to know whether you are done with your manuscript or whether it needs something else. I provide free, no-obligation sample appraisals, so there’s no need to worry if - having assessed and discussed your work with you - we both agree it’s not quite ready for a ﻿copy-edit ﻿or a proofread just yet.

Send over a 1,500-word sample from anywhere in your manuscript: I’ll assess it, ask you a few questions if I need to, and then we can discuss how you might be able to progress from there. If your work has not arrived at the copy-editing stage yet, it could need a structural edit - also known as a developmental edit (greater intervention, potentially involving restructuring large parts of the narrative and/or substantial rewriting). In this case, I can either help by providing an in-depth review of your manuscript, which will identify the areas that need further attention and how you can approach them, or I can refer you to some colleagues who carry out this deeper level of edit. If, however, I think it’s ready to move on to the next stage, I’ll carry out a copy-edit or proofread on the sample to show you how I work, provide you with some quotes, and you can decide whether to proceed from there.

It is always advisable that you self-edit the manuscript at least once - preferably twice or three times - before enlisting the help of a professional. Be sure you have done all you can with it first. In this way, you could save yourself time and money at the next stage.

It's a lot to pay; will it be worth it?

It would be very easy here for me to just say ‘yes, professional editorial support is essential and will pay for itself when the book sells or when the publisher's contract lands on your doormat’. But - as much as I'd like to - I’m not in any position to guarantee you such a return on your investment; there are lots of factors influencing that. Instead I would suggest considering what you hope to achieve with your book.

Anyone who picks up a book to read, for whatever reason, wants to be able to enjoy it without distraction, and errors of spelling and grammar, or lack of clarity and cohesion, are frustrating and off-putting. So, in this sense, having a professional and objective pair of eyes look over your work is always going to be worth it.

If you are releasing your work into the marketplace with a view to profiting from your stories and building your author brand, then now more than ever quality is of paramount importance. It is already an over-populated market where authors are having to work extremely hard to jostle their books to the front of the queue. This they achieve largely through positive reader reviews. A professionally edited, error-free book will put you in a stronger position to sell via word of mouth, and to build your author brand ready for future releases.

I will always try to provide you with a range of quotes, including discounted package options or payment plans, in order to help ease the financial burden a little; I know how hard you've worked to get this far, and how difficult it can be to raise the funds to finish your book as well as you'd like. My priority is to provide you with affordable book editing services but without cutting corners on quality or professionalism.

Can you make my manuscript perfect?

On every project, I commit to carrying out work to the highest professional standard within the realms of my capability, training and experience. Whilst I aim for a high degree of accuracy in terms of error capture (90% and above), I am unable to offer a guarantee of 100% perfection, owing to the nature of the work (some of which is subjective) and the capacity for unintentional human error. The Society for Editors and Proofreaders have produced a Standards in Proofreading article which explains this point in more detail.

I would like to publish traditionally; can you still help?

Of course. These days, ‘independent’ doesn’t just refer to self-published-only authors, but to all authors who are taking control of their work and route to publication (including, of course, hybrid authors who choose to self-publish and publish traditionally). If your work is accepted by a publisher, it is highly likely - though not always certain - they will fund and project manage your book right through to post-publication, which includes several rounds of editing and, finally, proofreading. But some authors are choosing to give themselves the best possible chance of reaching this stage by seeking editorial assistance early, and thus ensuring their manuscript is as good as it can be when it lands on the agent’s or publisher’s desk.

Can you refer me or recommend me to literary agents?

Unfortunately not. I am an independent proofreader and copy-editor; I do not work in correlation with literary agents or publishers or receive any commissions from third parties for referrals. I am more than happy, however, to assist you in researching who to consider approaching based on your manuscript's genre and reputable agencies currently accepting submissions.

How will you edit/proofread my book?

Although I can work with PDF files or on paper, I prefer to use Microsoft Word for the ease and convenience of its Track Changes facility. With Track Changes you will be able to view what changes I’ve made, and choose whether to Accept or Reject them. It also lets me add comments to the manuscript, in which I can explain to you my reasons for altering the text and/or provide notes for your reference.

You will need to email your Word document to me in its entirety, and I will return at least two versions on completion of the work: a Tracked Changes copy and a Clean copy (with all changes accepted). If you are unfamiliar with Word’s Track Changes, don't worry: it's very easy to use and I will talk you through it.

When your manuscript is with me, you can rest assured it will receive my thorough attention. I will begin by running a series of software programs through the manuscript, which will highlight some issues or inconsistencies in terms of spelling and grammar. Please note these are offline programs installed on my computer - your work will not be run through any online applications. This is followed with several close read-throughs of the text where my emphasis is on clarity and context - areas the software is unable to detect - as well as formatting. Before returning your manuscript, the software is run one last time to ensure no new errors have slipped in whilst I have been working on the text.

During a copy-edit, your manuscript will receive three read-throughs in total. The first is to get a feel for the story and to weed out any big-picture issues such as plot holes. The second is the edit itself. And the third is a final read-through on paper to see how it reads post-edit. In the event that the first read-through reveals bigger structural issues - beyond the remit of a copy-edit - I will immediately inform you and charge only for the work carried out to date. I will never begin work on your manuscript without seeing a sample first, but occasionally bigger issues are not evident until the text is read in its entirety.

What would I receive with a manuscript review?

On completion of a thorough review of your manuscript, you will receive a comprehensive report in the form of a Word document. The report will be a breakdown of the narrative, discussing the good, bad, and/or some ideas for improvement. It will raise any issues I feel could be rectified, redundant areas, or areas with potential for confusion. Likewise, it will highlight where I feel the narrative is particularly strong, what is working well, where your strengths lie and how you can capitalise on them.

The tone of the report will be respectful and supportive at all times, but also honest in my assessment to allow you to benefit and potentially improve not only your manuscript but also your work on future projects.

Will I be kept informed of progress?

Yes, you will receive regular email communication from me: once every week in the form of a progress update if there are no issues, or more often if I need your input on something before then. You are free to contact me as much as you want during this time, and I will respond as soon as I am able.

Most of my communications are carried out via email. The reason for this is that working on manuscripts requires a high level of concentration and can be mentally demanding, therefore it is easier for me to gather my notes and thoughts together in an email than to remember everything I need to discuss with you in a phone call. Likewise, an email records our communications so that I can keep track of what we have discussed. As I work with authors from all around the world and across time zones, email is also more financially and socially preferable. Should you need to contact me by phone, however, to confirm I am a real human (as opposed to a bot!), this will be arranged.

How long will it take you to work on my book?

Naturally this depends on the word-length of your manuscript and the amount of intervention required. As a rough guide, for proofreading, copy-editing or reviewing of a novel-length project, I usually allow up to three weeks, although some may take only one week and others longer.

If time allows, I prefer to work on the basis of quality before speed, and will usually overestimate a timescale to ensure I can 'get to know' your book and give it 100% of my care and attention. When I hand your work back to you, I want to feel certain I have done everything I can to get it into shape for the next stage of its journey. However, I understand time is not always on our side, and in these instances I will arrange a schedule that will respect any forthcoming deadlines. If my current workload dictates I am unable to meet your deadline, I will refer you to some colleagues who may be able to help.

What if I need more than one service from you?

If on assessment of your work we both agree that your manuscript would benefit from more than one editorial service or you wish to take advantage of a discounted package option, we will arrange a timescale and payment schedule for all the work I will provide. For instance, maybe you would like a copy-edit followed by a final proofread just prior to publication; or, perhaps you would like my help at all editorial stages, beginning with a review to identify any major issues that need resolving before the copy-editing stage.

What happens when you’ve finished work on my manuscript?

On completion, I will email you at least two versions of your proofread/edited manuscript (Tracked and Clean). You will also receive a Query List containing anything you need to address or be aware of before you proceed to the next stage. In addition, you will receive a Style Guide (if you do not already have one), listing all the formatting and stylistic choices (e.g. spelling or numerical styles, UK or US English, etc.) that have been consistently applied throughout the manuscript. This guide is essential for anyone working on the manuscript subsequently, and/or useful for your reference.

Potentially, you may receive a final document in the form of a report if I have much to discuss with you that would make for an email of epic proportions. This report may: explain my changes, offer some thoughts on your narrative, advise what I feel the next step for you and your book may be, or raise any other points you might want to consider.

All of these documents are purely for your use and consideration only. You are under no obligation to agree with or action any of the points I raise. Feedback is a wonderful medium through which you can broaden your writing skills and creativity, but it should not do so to the detriment of your own personal goals for your work. When in doubt, trust your instincts.

Finally, with the invoice you will receive a feedback form, which will allow you to comment upon your experiences of working with me. Honest feedback is always welcomed and appreciated, as it helps me to improve on the service I offer you.

How and when do I pay?

If your manuscript is in excess of 50,000 words, a 30% deposit is required by the work commencement date. This deposit acts as insurance for myself, and also guarantees you my sole occupation with your manuscript for the duration of the work. After completion, the remaining payment will be due within 14 days of the final invoice date. In the case of my editorial support packages, the complete fee will be divided into separate payments, each of which is to be made upon completion of each stage (i.e. two payments for two stages; three payments for three stages).Alternatively, if a payment plan is required, terms will be agreed before we commence. For example: a total fee of £500 spread over a 9-month payment schedule would be an initial deposit of £55.60 followed by eight payments of £55.55.

I accept payment via electronic bank transfer or PayPal, details of which will be supplied at the time.